Bob Close, Hartlepool born World Billiards champion.

He was a mate of my dad's and my old man was on about him the other day. I have just looked up his record in championships. He did win a couple of World championships but his record in the British championship which is pretty much the world championship anyway, was amazing. Between 1975 and 1985 he only missed the final one year.

http://www.eaba.co.uk/records/amateur/e ... pions.html

still living up the manor up inverness road area

mind its a shame norman dagley was around at the same time

You sure about that bit?

http://archive.thisisthenortheast.co.uk ... 84943.html

well it must be his brother gets the bus regular and i always thought it was bob close his sister stella was the controller at streamline taxis when i worked there in the early eighties

Bob past away a few years back he was a big name in the snooker world back in the day as was the towns very own Mal Hughes the bowls player.

He worked at HQ Engineering in Burn Road I think...

He did talk to his daughter Karen every day in the bookies.

I remember him but I always thought he was a fireman...................or am I thinking of someone else

Mal Hughes is a cock HTH

Edit: should say was didnt realised he had died

i remember him class billiards player my dad used play snooker with
him aswell